By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
Most fathers look at their daughters and see a child in pigtails — not a woman —no matter how old their daughter is.
That doesn’t change when the daughter falls in love and gets married.
Stanley Banks, played by Tim Sopel in the Cabot Community Theatre’s upcoming rendition of “Father of the Bride,” is a typical dad stressed by wedding plans and watching his little girl grow up.
“He’s happy. He’s enraged. He’s a jokester. He’s going crazy. He’s the full range of emotions,” Sopel says about his character.
The play premieres at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Other show dates are April 27 and 28 and May 3-5.
Dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays with the play starting at 7:30. Sunday performances are show only beginning at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $25 for an adult dinner and show, $15 for an adult show only, $15 for a child dinner and $10 for a child show only. Call 501-941-2266 to reserve a seat.
“Father of the Bride” is based on the 1950 film of the same name.
Sopel said he relates to his role because he has three daughters and one of them is just four years older than the bride in the play.
“It’s really hilarious. It’s a great collection of humorous characters and it deals with weddings, which everyone has touched in some way,” Sopel said.
He added, with a chuckle, “(Stanley Banks is) kind of like my father. My father is a screamer.”
Sopel acts with the Royal Players in Benton. He said “Father of the Bride” director Doug Morris was in one of their productions and he is returning the favor.
Hali Free is starring in the show as 21-year-old Kay Banks, the bride.
She is a first-timer on the Cabot stage, but has been acting for years.
“It has been a blast. One of the things about it is there is always a fraternity among cast members. Every time you do a show you extend your family,” Free said.
She recently graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
Free identifies with her character to a point.
“We’re both kind of really high-strung. We both like to shop. But she gets a lot angrier than I do,” she said.
Free continued, “(The audience) will have a great time and a lot of laughs.”
Cecilia Wilson, who plays Ellie Banks, the bride’s mother, said, “I am absolutely in love with old comedies. It’s so fun, a more innocent time. I think people can relate to it even if they didn’t grow up in the ‘50s.”
The cast also includes Brian Roberson as Buckley, the groom; Ryan Hoyle as Ben, one of the bride’s brothers; Justin Foust as Tommy, another of the bride’s brothers; Mathew Turner as Buzz, Macy Long as Peggy, Catherine Jaye as Delilah, Deiona McKnight as Miss Bellany, John Twyford as Massoula, Audie Waterson as Joe, Jimma Hampton as Mrs. Pulitzki, Terrence Ricks as Red, Doug Morris as Pete and Addison Bennett as Tim’s girl.
